Houston couple accused of failing to get treatment for baby's broken bones

By Carol Christian |
August 8, 2014

Peter Hargett is charged with injury to a child. (Photo:Harris County Sheriff's Office)

Susan Jones is charged with injury to a child. (Photo: Harris County Sheriff's Office)

A Houston couple whose baby daughter had six fractures of her arms and legs have been jailed on no bond, charged with injury to a child.

Peter Hargett, 43, and Susan Jones, 42, took their 7-week-old baby to a northwest Houston hospital on Feb. 17 because one of her legs was swollen, police said. After examining the child, hospital staff found that the swollen leg was broken and that she had six other broken bones in various stages of healing.

Due to the extent of her injuries, the child was transferred to Texas Children's Hospital, records state.

According to the couple's arrest warrants, the child's medical record showed she had three fractures to her right arm, two fractures to the left arm and two to her left leg.

Investigators who analyzed Jones' cellphone found photos taken Feb. 6 and 7 that showed bruises on the baby's cheek and forehead. The analysis also showed text messages from Jones to Hargett warning him to be more careful when the baby got fussy, according to court documents.

Jones also told police about an incident when Hargett got frustrated as he was changing the baby's diaper in their car and she had to intervene, records state.

A physician at Texas Children's Hospital told investigators that the amount of force needed to break the baby's bones was far more than anyone would reasonably use in the course of normal activities, court records state.

The doctor also said there would have been swelling in the older injuries that would have been quite painful to the touch. The baby would have been crying so much that the parents should have sought medical treatment, the doctor told investigators.

The couple remained in jail Friday on $5,000 bail each. Jones is scheduled to appear Aug. 11 in the 177th State District Court. Hargett's next court date is set for Sept. 5 in the same courtroom.